Station-indicator.



No. 818,447. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. A. E. HOVEY & J. E. TAPLEY.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED N017, 1904.

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No. 818,447. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. A. E. HOVEY & J. E. TAPLEY.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1904.

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ALFRED E. HOVEY AND JOHN E. TAPLEY, OF CASS LAKE, MINNESOTA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aprii 24, 1906.

Application filed November 7. 1904. Serial No. 231,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED E. I-IovEY and JOHN E. TAPLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Cass Lake, in the county of Cass and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Station-Indicator, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to indicators in general, and more particularly to that class of devices especially designed for use on railwaycars, street-cars, and other vehicles for displaying or otherwise indicating the names of the streets or stations along the route.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of this character adapted to be supported within the car and which will enable the passengers at all times to ascertain at a glance the name or number of the next succeeding station, street, or stopping-place.

A further object of the invention is to mount an indicator at each end of the car or vehicle and to connect the same in such a manner that the conductor, motorman, or other person on the car may simultaneously operate both indicators.

A still further object is to provide means for simultaneously reversing the direction of rotation of the indicatondials, so as to cause the indicators to display the names of the stations or streets in their reverse order on the return trip of the car.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing excessive rotation of the indicator-dial, and, further, to provide an auxiliary locking device movable to operable and inoperable positions by the movement of pawl-carrying bar.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of the indicators and intermediate operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of one of the/indicators. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pawlcarrying bar, reversing-lever, and auxiliary locking-pawl removed from the casing. Fig. 5 is a similar View to Fig. 4, showing the reversing-lever in reverse position and the operating-lever returning to normal position after completing a rearward stroke. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the rear por tion of the reversing-lever. Fig. 7 is a rear view of a portion of the casing, showing the mechanism for preventing excessive rotation of the indicator-dial. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the dial. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the lever for locking the reversing-lever in set position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

In carrying out the invention two indicators 5 and 6 are employed, the indicator 5 being preferably supported in any suitable manner at the front end of the car and designed for the use of the motorman and the second indicator arranged within the car for displaying the names of the streets or stations to the passengers, both indicators being actuated simultaneously through the medium of the intermediate operating mechanism. (Shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.)

Inasmuch as both indicators are identical in construction and operation, a detailed description and illustration of one will suffice, it being understood that the several elements pointed out in one indicator will be duplicated in the other.

The indicator 5 consists of a suitable base 7, to which is secured in any suitable manner a casing or housing 8, provided with a pivoted lid or cover 9, the latter having a sightopening 10 formed therein, at which the names or numbers of the streets or stations printed on the dial 11 will be successively displayed to the passengers in the car.

Secured to the base 7 is a supplemental frame or housing 11, and journaled in said frame and base, respectively, is a pair of transverselydisposed shafts 12 and 12, to which are keyed or otherwise rigidly secured gear-wheels 13. The gears 13 mesh with each other, as, shown, and secured to or formed integral with said gears are toothed drums 14 and 14, the peripheral teeth 15 of which are adapted to be engaged by a pair of spring-actuated pawls 16 and 16, pivoted to the free end of an oscillating pawl-carrying bar 17. The pawl-carrying bar 17 is spaced from the base 7 by a block 18, and the enlarged head 19 of the bar is pivoted to said block, as indicated at 20, so as to permit free oscillatory movement of said bar in a plane in front of the gears 13. The shaft 12 is ex tended beyond the frame 11 and provided with a crown-wheel 21, the teeth or pins 22 of which mesh with the teeth of a relatively large gearwheel 23, the latter being j ournaled on a threaded pin or screw 24, which also serves to secure the dial 11 in position. The gear 23 is spaced from the frame 11 by a block and from the side of the dial by a similar block 26, a portion of the pin 24 being left smooth to permit free rotation of the gear to which said dial is secured. By this arrangement it will be seen that the gear and dial may be readily detached by unscrewing the pin 24 when for any reason it is desired to remove said dialas, for instance, to reset the same.

The upper or free end of the pawl-carrying bar reciprocates in a segmental guide-plate 27, provided with transverse stoppins 28 and 28, and secured to said bar is one end of a coil-spring 29, the opposite end of which is fastened to the base 7 and serves to normally hold the bar in contact with the stop-pin 28, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The spring-pawl 16 normally engages the teeth on the adjacent drum 14, so that when the bar 17 is oscillated back and forth the drum will be rotated with a step-by-step movement in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, and thereby successively display the names or numbers of the streets at the opening in the casing.

As a means for reversing the direction of rotation of the dial 11 a reversing bar or lever 30 is provided. This bar or lever is pivoted to the pawl-carrying bar at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, as indicated at 31, and is provided with a substantially T- shaped head 32, having pins or lugs 33 eX- tending laterally from one side of the terminal arms thereof and adapted to alternately elevate the pawls 16 and 16 from engage ment with the teeth on the drums when said reversing-bar is oscillated. It will thus be seen that when the pawl 16 engages the teeth on the adjacent drum the pawl 16 will be in elevated position and the movement of the pawl-carrying bar will rotate the dial in the reverse direction, and consequently display the names or numbers of the streets in reverse order. p

The lower end of the lever 30 slides back and forth on the head 19 of the bar 17 and is provided with an elongated slot or recess 31, the end walls of which engage suitable stoppins 32, secured, respectively, to the head of the bar 17 and to a flat plate 33 and which serve to limit the oscillating movement of said reversing-lever. A coil-spring 34 is fastened to the free end of the reversing-lever and to the supplemental frame or-housing 1 1, the tendency of which is to cause the rear end wall of the slot 31 to normally engage the adjacent stop-pin 32.

The pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating the indicators'is described in detail and forms the subject-matter of the claims of an application filed by me on the 5th day of April, 1904, Serial No. 201,671, said applica tion being renewed July 11, 1905, under Serial No. 269,274.

Mounted for rotation with shaft 12 at the rear of the base 7 is a wheel 36, provided with a plurality of peripheral notches or recesses 37, adapted to receive the terminal roller 38 of a pivoted lever 39. The lever 39 is pivoted, as indicated at 40, to a bar 41, disposed in a recess formed in the rear of the base 7 and to which is secured one end of a spring 42, the

opposite end of said spring being attached to the free end of the lever 39. The tendency of the spring 42 is to hold the roller 38 in engagement with the notches on the wheel 36, and the tension of said spring may be adjusted to vary the downward pressure of the roller 38 by means of one or more hooks 43. It will thus be seen that the roller 38 acts as a temporary lock or brake to prevent the drum 14 from accidentally turning more than the distance of one of the teeth 15 when the pawlcarrying bar is operated, thereby insuring a positive step-by-step movement of the dial 11 and the successive display of the names of the streets on the latter in their regular order.

In addition to the lock or brake above de scribed an auxiliary locking device is employed in conjunction therewith, and this locking device preferably consists of a springpressed pawl or lockin member 44, one end of which is pivoted, as lndicated at 45, to the guide-plate 27 and the opposite end thereof provided with a laterally-extending lockinglip 46, which is normally elevated out of engagement with the peripheral notches 47 of a ratchet-wheel 48, the latter being secured to and rotated by the drum 14. The intermediate portion of the pawl 44 is bent to form an inclined shoulder 49, which engages a pin or lug 50, extending laterally from the pawlcarrying bar 17 and which serves to elevate the terminal lip 46 when the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. When a rearward pull is exerted on the bar 17, however, the inclined shoulder 48 rides over the pin or lug 50 and the lip 46 drops into engagement with one of the notches on the ratchet-wheel 49, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, thus locking said wheel against rotation.

The engagement of the lip 46 with the notch 47 is effected simultaneously with the engage- 'ment of the roller 38 and wheel 36, there by forming a double lock and effectually preventing the dial from rotating more than the distance necessary to display the name of the succeding street or station at the opening 10 when the pawl-carrying bar is moved to operative position. On the return movement of the bar 17 the inclined shoulder 49 rides over the pin or lug. 50 and elevates the lip 46, the several parts being then in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Attention is here called to the fact that by l rial, while springs 71 may be secured to the reason of the simultaneous operation of the roller 38 and pawl 44 the former tends to center the lip 46 in the notches in the ratchetwheel 48, so as to prevent the lip from binding on the end walls of said notches.

As before stated, the indicators 5 and 6 will be preferably located at the front and rear end of the car, respectively, and as a means for simultaneously actuating said indicators the intermediate operating mechanism (shown in Fig. 1) is employed. This mechanism consists of a main operating-lever 51, to which is rigidly secured a drum 52, the latter being pivoted, as indicated at 53, to a bracket 54, secured in any suitable manner to the side or other portion of the car.

Fastened to the drum 52 are oppositely-extending straps or cords 54, the ends of which are secured to levers 56, pivoted to suitable supports 56 and 56, also secured to the car. Fastened to the pivoted levers 56 are heavy coil-springs 57, the ends of which pass through openings in the side walls of the indi cator-casings and are connected, through the medium of cords, rods, or straps 58, to the ends of the pawl-carrying bars 17. The tension of the coil-springs 57 is such that when the lever 51 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 the pawl-carrying bars will start to operate to shift the dial; but the springs will not be affected and the dial actually moved until after the lever has passed a certain point, preferably the medial line between the stop-pins 58 and 59, thus insuring the operation of both indicators in the case the cords 54 and 58 should stretch or sag from constant use.

As a means for shifting the reversing-lever and locking the same in reversed position a locking-lever 60 is provided, to which are secured flexible cords or straps 61 and 62, the cord 61 being fastened to a lever 63, pivoted to the bracket 56, while the opposite cord 62 passes over a roller 64 and is secured to a similar pivoted lever 65. Heavy coil-springs 66, similar to the springs 57, connect the levers 63 and 65, through the medium of rods or cords 58, to the reversing-levers of the indicators, as shown. The locking-lever 60 may be of any preferred construction; but it is preferred to form the same with a pivoted spring-actuated latch 66, the lower end of which is inclined or beveled, as indicated at 67, and adapted to engage a dog 68, so that when said latch is tilted rearwardly it will disengage the dog from the segmental rack 69 and permit the locking-lever to be moved to operative position and simultaneouslylock the reversing-levers of both indicators in set position.

The throw of the lever 60 may be controlled by suitable stop-pins 70, which pins, as well as the pins 58 and 59, may be covered with rubber or other suitable yieldable matepivoted levers 56, 63, and in order to maintain said levers in vertical position.

From the foregoing description the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further detailed description, it being merely necessary to state that when the car is going in one direction and the lever 51 is operated both indicators will display the names of the streets or stations along the route, and when the direction of travel of the car is reversed and the locking-lever shifted to actuate the reversing-lever a continued movement of the operating-lever will cause the names of the streets to appear in reverse order.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, an indicator-operating means including a pushpawl, a pull-pawl, an operating means connecting the two, a pair of toothed drums engaged by said pawls, an indicator operable by said drums, a locking device adapted to engage one of said drums, and means for alternately throwing said pawls into and out of engagement with the teeth on said drums to thereby reverse the direction of movement of the indicator.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, ofapair of toothed drums rotatably mounted therein, a pawl carrying bar pivoted between said drums, an indicator operable by said drums, a pushpawl and a pull-pawl pivoted to said bar and adapted to engage the teeth on said drums, means for adjusting said pawls alternately to operative position, and a locking member adapted to engage one of said drums and movable to operative and inoperative position by the pawl-carrying bar.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing provided with a display-opening, toothed drums mounted for rotation therein, a ratchet-wheel rotatable with one of said drums, a pawlcarrying bar pivoted between the drums and provided with a push and a pull pawl adapted to engage the teeth on the drums, an indicator 0perable by said drums to successively display a symbol at said opening, and a pivoted looking member adapted to engage the ratchetwheel and movable to locked and unlocked positions by the movement of the pawl-carrying bar.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, toothed drums mounted for rotation in said casing, an indicator operable by one of said drums, a ratchet-wheel rotatable with said drum, a pawl-carrying bar pivoted between the drums, a push-pawl and a pull-pawl pivoted to said bar and adapted to alternately engage the teeth on the drums, a guide for said bar,

pins disposed within the guide for limiting the lateral throws of the bar, and a lockingpawl adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, toothed drums mounted for rotation therein, an indicator Operable by said drums, a pawl-carrying bar pivoted between the latter and provided with a push-pawl and a pull-pawl adapted to engage the teeth on said drums, a lever for adjusting said pawls alternately to operative position, a ratchet-wheel rotatable with one of said drums, a pin carried by the bar, and a locking-pawl adapted to engage the ratchetwheel and provided with an inclined shoulder for engagement with the pin. I

6. In a device of the class described, a pair of indicators each provided with operating means, and an intermediate operating mechanism for simultaneously actuating both indicator-operating means, said mechanism also including means for reversing the direction of rotation'of the operating means of both indicators and means for locking the same in reversed position.

7. In a device of the class described, a pair of indicators each provided with an indicating-dial and means for rotating the same, a lever disposed between the indicators and having a flexible connection with the dial-opcrating means of both indicators for simultaneously operating the latter, and means also disposed between said indicators for reversing the direction of rotation of said dials.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

' ALFRED E. HOVEY.

JOHN E. TAPLEY. Witnesses:

FRANK IvEs, GEo. F. LEE. 

